The Prime Minister’s Daughter and the Marquis’s Fool – Chapter 51

Why Wasn’t I Informed When They Were Sold?

Lin Xizhao couldn’t read Lin Jianhai’s emotions, nor could she be certain how he would deal with Lin Xikuan next, so she didn’t invite him into the room.

But even if Lin Xizhao didn’t invite him, Lin Jianhai would go in himself. Lin Jianhai took a step toward Lin Xizhao, and she could only move aside to make way.

When Lin Jianhai entered the room, even Lin Xirui grew a little tense. He walked up to Lin Xikuan and looked down at him with condescending eyes.

Lin Xikuan swallowed nervously, his body trembling, but he didn’t move an inch.

The room was quiet for a long time. Just when even Qu Sheng thought Lin Jianhai wouldn’t let Lin Xikuan off lightly, Lin Jianhai made no move at all.

“All of you, go out first. I’m going to have a word with Xikuan.” The simmering anger Lin Jianhai had shown outside the room was gone, and he now seemed perfectly calm and collected.

Everyone in the room exchanged glances. Lin Xirui looked to Lin Xizhao for help, but even Lin Xizhao couldn’t figure out Lin Jianhai’s intentions.

“It’s getting late. Everyone go back and rest,” Lin Jianhai said in a gentle voice.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao looked up at Qu Sheng. Qu Sheng met her gaze and moved toward her. Feng Qi also followed behind Qu Sheng at this time, turning to walk out of the room.

Lin Xizhao took the hand Qu Sheng offered and looked up at Lin Xirui. At this moment, Lin Xirui didn’t know if he should leave or not.

Lin Jianhai glanced sideways. Seeing Lin Xirui hadn’t moved, he seemed to hesitate before speaking again, “Xirui, go back to your courtyard.”

Hearing that Lin Jianhai’s tone wasn’t angry, Lin Xirui pondered for a moment, then raised his hands to salute and walked out the door.

Lin Xizhao walked along the path, holding Qu Sheng’s hand, with Lin Xirui following beside them.

“Ah Jie, Second Brother will be alright, won’t he?” Lin Xirui asked worriedly as he walked.

Hearing this, Lin Xizhao didn’t stop walking. She shook her head and said, “I don’t know, but given what Xikuan did today, Father probably won’t let him off lightly.”

What he did was certainly not something to be let off lightly, but on top of that, he had pointed out Lin Xizhao’s faults with a small belly and chicken intestines¹, which was undoubtedly pouring fuel on a raging fire.

“Then what should we do?” Lin Xirui asked anxiously.

At his words, Lin Xizhao stopped in her tracks. Qu Sheng and Lin Xirui also stopped.

“Xirui, do you think I was wrong in today’s matter?”

Lin Xizhao had deliberately let Lin Xikuan have the silver notes. If she had stopped him beforehand, perhaps this wouldn’t have happened.

“What did Ah Jie do wrong? It was Second Brother who was muddle-headed, and… and his heart was fumed with lust. If Ah Jie hadn’t found someone to stop him today, it nearly would have led to a disaster. He deserves to be taught a lesson.” Lin Xirui remembered the severity of the problem Lin Xizhao had told him about, and he wished he could personally whip Lin Xikuan awake.

But as his younger brother, he didn’t want his older brother to receive a severe punishment.

Seeing Lin Xirui being so reasonable, Lin Xizhao’s heart relaxed considerably. She only had these two younger brothers. One regarded her as a nail in the eye²; if the other one also resented her, it would be self-deception to say she wouldn’t be sad.

---

When Qu Sheng returned from her bath, she saw Lin Xizhao sitting alone in the outer room in a daze, wearing only her nightclothes. She untied her own outer robe and draped it over Lin Xizhao’s shoulders.

Lin Xizhao felt something against her body and turned her head to look.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Lin Xizhao’s tone was gentle, yet tinged with a trace of weariness.

Qu Sheng looked down at Lin Xizhao without speaking. A moment later, just as Lin Xizhao was about to say something else, Qu Sheng lifted her horizontally from the chair.

“Sheng’er,” Lin Xizhao cried out softly. She had never been held by Qu Sheng like this before and had no idea she was this strong.

Qu Sheng held Lin Xizhao without looking down at her, turned, and placed her directly onto the bed.

She knew that Lin Xizhao was most likely worrying about today’s events. But the fault did not lie with Lin Xizhao. Lin Xikuan’s temperament was very similar to Yu-shi’s³—a white-eyed wolf⁴ that couldn’t be tamed. As long as their own interests were involved, they would become obsessed and dare to do anything.

Qu Sheng lifted the quilt, covered Lin Xizhao with it, deftly took off her shoes, and got onto the bed as well.

Lin Xizhao looked sideways at Qu Sheng, who was sitting and staring at her. Knowing she was worried, she curved her eyes into a smile after a moment. As if coaxing a child, she raised a hand to stroke her cheek and said softly, “Alright, let’s rest.”

Qu Sheng didn’t move when she heard this. Seeing her like this, Lin Xizhao could only lie down first with a helpless sigh.

After watching her lie down, Qu Sheng pulled the quilt up for her. Without waiting for Lin Xizhao to beckon her, she lay down in her arms.

Lin Xizhao held Qu Sheng, rubbing her chin on the top of Qu Sheng’s head. Then she looked down at the two deep, bright eyes Qu Sheng revealed, a smile on her lips as she placed a kiss on her forehead.

Feeling the soft warmth of Lin Xizhao’s body, Qu Sheng’s heart began to race, causing a lump to form in her throat as if something was obstructing it. She could only swallow to relieve the feeling.

Qu Sheng gazed at Lin Xizhao’s gentle face, which had pulled back a slight distance. In the moment before she fully withdrew, her eyes remained fixed on Lin Xizhao’s soft lips.

The kiss on her forehead, so soft, exerted a considerable pull on her originally calm heart.

Qu Sheng propped herself up, looking down at Lin Xizhao who was already lying down. Lin Xizhao saw her sit up halfway, a look of confusion on her face. But before Lin Xizhao could ask what she was doing, Qu Sheng shifted her gaze from Lin Xizhao’s soft lips and fixed it on her eyes.

Qu Sheng lowered her head and kissed Lin Xizhao’s willow-like eyebrows⁵, lightly and slowly. The breath that Lin Xizhao gently exhaled sprayed across Qu Sheng’s neck, soft and ticklish.

Her neck itched, but her heart itched even more.

After the kiss, Qu Sheng didn’t immediately lift her head, but instead moved her lips downward.

As Qu Sheng’s lips slowly moved down, Lin Xizhao quickly and lightly lifted her chin and deliberately planted a loud smack on Qu Sheng’s cheek, leaving Qu Sheng stunned.

Qu Sheng raised her head slightly, staring into Lin Xizhao’s eyes, which were clearly filled with amusement. A fiery mist flared up in her own eyes. Qu Sheng’s breathing hitched. Just as she was about to lower her head again to kiss Lin Xizhao’s soft lips, Lin Xizhao smoothly raised her slender hands and cupped her face.

“Alright, aren’t we supposed to be resting?”

If we keep kissing like this, when will it ever end?

Hearing Lin Xizhao’s light laugh, the small flame of desire in Qu Sheng’s heart was instantly blown out. Qu Sheng looked down at Lin Xizhao, the fire in her eyes extinguished. Her lips pressed together lightly, and she retracted the arms supporting her body, slowly lying back down.

Lin Xizhao held Qu Sheng, a warm feeling of happiness welling up in her heart. Qu Sheng, however, kept her head down, her brow tightly furrowed, lost in thought.

---

The next day.

At the morning meal, everyone was at the table except for Lin Xikuan. Lin Jianhai didn’t speak, so neither Lin Xizhao nor Lin Xirui dared to ask.

The sister and brother frequently exchanged glances across the table. After Lin Jianhai finished his meal, he said, “I’ve ordered Xikuan to close his doors and reflect on his mistakes for the time being. None of you are to disturb him. There will be people assigned to attend to him over there.” Lin Jianhai used the word “disturb.”

Everyone at the table, except for Qu Sheng, looked up at Lin Jianhai.

“There’s no need to pursue the matter of the silver. His Majesty has assigned me some tasks today, so I may be very busy. As for the residence’s affairs, Zhao’er, you are the zhangjie⁶, you must bear more responsibility.” Lin Jianhai then looked at Lin Xirui and said, “Your sister manages the affairs of the residence and will often be tired. You are the legitimate son of the Marquis Residence, so you should take good care of your sister and not make her angry.”

Lin Jianhai’s words seemed like ordinary instructions, but to Lin Xizhao’s ears, they sounded somewhat unusual.

Hearing this, Lin Xirui quickly said, “Father, rest assured, this child will definitely take good care of Ah Jie and will not cause her any trouble.”

Lin Jianhai nodded. “I’ve finished eating. You all can eat a little more.” With that, Lin Jianhai stood up. Lin Xizhao and Lin Xirui also stood to salute.

When Lin Jianhai reached the door of the dining hall, he paused for a moment, his head turning slightly to glance back, before striding away.

---

Zhao Residence.

Last night, Xiao Bingying had carried Cheng Xi back to the Xiao Residence, and Zhao Jiayu had followed not long after. But when she arrived, her maternal aunt was whipping Xiao Bingying.

Xiao Bingying stood by her door, refusing to budge an inch. Cheng Xi was still lying on her bed, and Madam Xiao wanted her to hand Cheng Xi over.

Before Xiao Bingying had returned with Cheng Xi, someone had already come to the residence to report to the matriarch of the Xiao family. Xiao Yaocai had been beaten by Zhao Jiayu at his private residence because Zhao Jiayu wanted to take Cheng Xi away.

At this moment, Xiao Yaocai was still on his way back; Zhao Jiayu had beaten him quite badly.

“Maternal aunt, what are you doing?” Zhao Jiayu ran over and seized Madam Xiao’s wrist.

Madam Xiao felt her wrist being grabbed. Hearing Zhao Jiayu’s voice, she turned her head and saw Zhao Jiayu’s face filled with simmering anger. Behind her were servants from the Xiao Residence.

“Madam, Biao-xiaojie, she…” An outsider’s arrival naturally had to be announced, but Zhao Jiayu had walked a bit too fast, and by the time they caught up, they hadn’t had a chance to inform Madam Xiao.

Seeing Zhao Jiayu’s furious expression and thinking about how her son had been beaten by her, Madam Xiao violently pulled her hand back and said, “I heard that you beat your biaodi⁷ for that bitch in her room?” As she spoke, Madam Xiao glanced at Xiao Bingying, who was standing by the door like an iron pillar, and gritted her teeth.

Zhao Jiayu didn’t deny it. “Yaocai does nothing but misbehave all day. Uncle isn’t in the residence, and you don’t discipline him. What’s wrong with me, his biaojie⁸, disciplining him a little on your behalf?”

“You! He’s your biaodi! How could you be like this person with a wolf’s heart and a dog’s lungs⁹, with your elbow turning outwards¹⁰?” Madam Xiao shot another vicious glare at Xiao Bingying as she spoke.

Xiao Bingying had been struck a few times, but her face was unharmed. She had long since grown accustomed to the pain on her body since childhood. At this moment, she watched the two of them speak without uttering a single word.

“I advise you to accumulate some mouth virtue¹¹. You call my Ah Jie a person with a wolf’s heart and a dog’s lungs, but have you ever thought about who went through nine deaths and one life¹² to bring Yaocai back from someone else’s home?”

Zhao Jiayu was referring to the incident a year ago when Xiao Yaocai was caught having an affair. To ransom him, Xiao Bingying had protected him and was beaten until she was covered all over with cuts and bruises¹³, even breaking several ribs. This was indeed proof of what the fortune-teller had said: that she could ward off disaster for her son.

Seeing her maternal aunt momentarily stunned by her words, Zhao Jiayu continued, “Also, Cheng Xi was bestowed upon your Xiao Residence by His Majesty. That makes her a person of the Xiao Residence. My Ah Jie rescued her from being violated by outsiders, so she was saving a person of the Xiao family, saving the face of the Xiao family. How did she become an outsider in your eyes?”

Madam Xiao wanted to continue making trouble, but she was choked by Zhao Jiayu’s sharp tongue and couldn’t get a word out.

“You’re back. Why isn’t Cai’er¹⁴ back yet?” Madam Xiao stared at Zhao Jiayu.

“I rode a horse back. He’s in a carriage. Of course he’s not as fast as me,” Zhao Jiayu said truthfully. Xiao Yaocai had been beaten so badly by her, it would be a miracle if he could ride a horse.

Hearing this, Madam Xiao’s chest heaved with anger. She frowned and shot a glare at Xiao Bingying before heading to the residence gates to welcome her son.

Seeing her maternal aunt leave, Zhao Jiayu waited until she was out of sight before quickly pushing the motionless Xiao Bingying into the room. “Ah Jie, quick, go help Cheng Xi get dressed. We can’t stay here tonight.”

Judging by the scene just now, if her maternal aunt found out she had beaten Xiao Yaocai so badly he couldn’t even get up, she would definitely vent all her anger, and the ones who would suffer the most would be Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi.

Xiao Bingying looked confused, not understanding why Zhao Jiayu wanted them to leave the Xiao Residence. Even if this place was a wolf’s den, it was still their home. They could leave for a while, but they couldn’t stay away forever, could they?

When she brought Cheng Xi back today, she had already expected to be punished or to be given trouble by Xiao Yaocai.

“I injured Yaocai. He can’t even get up right now.” Except when sparring with Xiao Bingying, Zhao Jiayu never held back. Today, Xiao Yaocai had provoked her, and when he fought back, he hadn’t shown any mercy either, which was why she had struck him so ruthlessly.

Hearing this, Xiao Bingying immediately understood the reason. Without waiting for Zhao Jiayu to urge her again, she hurried into the inner room and helped up Cheng Xi, whose body was still weak on the bed.

Xiao Bingying took a clean outer robe of her own, helped Cheng Xi put it on, and then carried her as she followed Zhao Jiayu out through the back door of the Xiao Residence.

Zhao Jiayu arranged for them to stay in the courtyard where Xiao Bingying used to live. Even though Xiao Bingying had left, the Zhao Residence had always kept a courtyard for her.

Xiao Bingying stayed by Cheng Xi’s side, not leaving for a single moment. At Xiao Yaocai’s residence, Cheng Xi had only drunk a drug that made her body weak, but this kind of drug was somewhat harmful to one’s health.

Early in the morning, Xiao Bingying personally went to the pharmacy, described Cheng Xi’s symptoms to the doctor, and the doctor, knowing immediately what was going on, prescribed her medicine directly.

Although Xiao Bingying knew some medicine, it was only superficial. She had never encountered such unorthodox, non-mainstream drugs.

When Xiao Bingying left, she had asked Zhao Jiayu to help look after Cheng Xi. Now, carrying the medicine, she walked quickly, hot breath puffing from her nose, thinking she had to hurry back to brew it for Cheng Xi. However, as she approached the gates of the Zhao Residence, she saw her mother directing people to carry someone into the Zhao Residence.

She didn’t need to think to know that the person on the stretcher was definitely Xiao Yaocai.

Xiao Bingying took a few steps forward and then stopped, Lin Xizhao’s words surfacing in her mind.

‘When you encounter difficulties, don’t always think about enduring them alone.’ Lin Xizhao was implying that Xiao Bingying shouldn’t always resist stubbornly and swallow all the bitterness. When necessary, she could run, she could seek outside help.

Zhao Jiayu was her outside help, and so was Lin Xizhao. But now Zhao Jiayu was in trouble, and the one who could help Zhao Jiayu at this moment…

Xiao Bingying went to the street and hired a carriage, asking to be taken to the Qu Marquis Residence.

She knew how unreasonable and overbearing her mother was. Last night, Zhao Jiayu said she had beaten Xiao Yaocai badly, and today her mother had him carried to the Zhao Residence. It was clear she wouldn’t let the matter rest and wanted the Zhao family to punish Zhao Jiayu.

---

Zhao Jiayu had been woken up early in the morning by Xiao Bingying’s knocking. Now, she was yawning endlessly, sitting in the outer room of Xiao Bingying’s room, warming herself by the charcoal fire.

“Miss, Madam asks you to come over,” the Zhao Residence’s housekeeper came, knocked on the door, and said from outside.

Hearing this, Zhao Jiayu was about to open her mouth to shout impatiently but then thought of Cheng Xi inside the room. Zhao Jiayu rubbed her still-sleepy eyes, got up, and opened the door.

“Uncle Fan¹⁵, I can’t leave right now. Please tell Mother I’ll be over in a little while.” She had been entrusted by Xiao Bingying to stand guard here. If people from the Xiao Residence came for Cheng Xi, she could stop them in time.

“Miss, Madam seems very angry,” the Zhao Residence’s housekeeper could only remind her helplessly, hearing Zhao Jiayu’s lazy voice.

“Why is she angry?” I told her yesterday when I brought Xiao Bingying and Cheng Xi here.

Hearing this, the housekeeper reminded her again, “People from the Xiao Residence have come.” As he spoke, he glanced back and added in a low voice, “Biao-shaoye¹⁶ was carried over.”

When Zhao Jiayu heard this, she was completely stunned. She had thought she had just taught Xiao Yaocai a lesson and that he would be fine after lying down for a few days. She never expected her maternal aunt to actually have him carried over. Could it be that she had been too heavy-handed last night? Had she given him internal injuries?

Zhao Jiayu’s heart pounded with anxiety, and she wanted to run. Whatever the problem, run first and ask questions later. By the time she came back, maybe the adults would have already handled it and cooled down.

But just as she was about to leave, she thought of Cheng Xi in the room and Xiao Bingying who was out getting medicine. If she ran, those two would definitely be captured and taken back.

According to her maternal aunt’s character, she would definitely transfer all her anger onto those two.

Thinking of this, Zhao Jiayu’s feet felt as if they were filled with lead, unable to move.

One should take responsibility for one’s own actions. What has Zhao Jiayu ever been afraid of? Zhao Jiayu steeled her heart and said to the housekeeper, “I’ll go over right now.”

Zhao Jiayu went to the main courtyard’s reception hall. Seeing a room full of people all looking at her outside the door, her feet now felt as if they had grown two wings, light and airy, wanting nothing more than to carry her away.

Mother Zhao looked down and saw Zhao Jiayu lift one foot to step inside, only to try and retract it before it even touched the ground. She said, “Jiayu, your maternal aunt says you were the one who beat your biaodi. Is that true?”

Hearing this, Zhao Jiayu could only let her raised foot fall. She looked down at Xiao Yaocai, who was still being carried by people, then looked up at her mother. She had already told her about this when she returned yesterday, but she hadn’t said she had beaten him so severely.

Now her mother was asking a question she already knew the answer to. She didn’t know what her intention was.

Zhao Jiayu’s legs once again felt as if they were filled with lead. She stepped into the hall and walked toward the crowd.

General Zhao sat to one side without speaking. Madam Xiao’s eyes were fixed on Zhao Jiayu, her expression making it seem like she wished she could give Zhao Jiayu a vicious beating as well.

Zhao Jiayu walked over and glanced down at the carried Xiao Yaocai. Seeing the purple bruises around his eyes and how his eyeballs darted around, he didn’t dare open his mouth to speak due to the injuries at the corners of his lips. She lowered her head and mumbled an “en.”

“En.”

She was the one who hit him. It was too dark in the courtyard last night; she hadn’t meant to beat him up this badly.

“She admitted it herself! What else do you have to say? Our master is far away in Shoulin on an imperial command, and you people are indulging your daughter in bullying us, a mother and son. Aren’t you afraid of being laughed at by others?” Having gained the upper hand, Madam Xiao now became aggressive.

“Dimei¹⁷, it’s common for children to fight. We watched Yaocai grow up too, and we feel distressed seeing him like this. Why don’t you let Yaocai rest first? I will definitely discipline Jiayu properly.”

“Discipline? How will you discipline her? My son was beaten like this, and you think a single word of ‘discipline’ is enough?” Madam Xiao glared angrily at Zhao Jiayu and added, “Yesterday, I was wondering why you all ran out the back door so quickly. So it was because you beat my son into this state and had a guilty conscience.”

General Xiao frowned as he listened to Madam Xiao’s shrill voice and looked at Zhao Jiayu. Zhao Jiayu was currently looking down, ignoring whatever Madam Xiao said. She simply wouldn’t look at her.

She had seen Madam Xiao’s fighting cock¹⁸-like demeanor many times. It always made her inexplicably angry, so she might as well not look and just let her father and mother deal with it.

But when she looked down at Xiao Yaocai, he, who had been looking at her, became unnerved by her persistent stare and slowly averted his gaze.

“If you don’t give our Yaocai justice today, we’re not leaving!”

Hearing Madam Xiao’s words, General Zhao seemed to understand something. He pondered for a few moments, then stood up and said, “For Jiayu to have beaten Yaocai like this, it is indeed due to our lack of discipline. How about this, dimei, take Yaocai back to recuperate first. We will have someone send over five thousand liang¹⁹ of silver for medical expenses and supplements. As for Jiayu, I will have her beaten with ten strokes of the plank²⁰ right now. Will that appease your anger, dimei?”

When Zhao Jiayu heard she was to be beaten with ten strokes of the plank, her eyes widened as she looked at her father. She still vividly remembered being beaten with the plank as a child. The beating hadn’t even started yet, but she could already feel the pain.

“Father,” Zhao Jiayu didn’t want to be beaten.

“If General Zhao’s heart is too soft, handing her over to the authorities is also an option,” Madam Xiao implied, wanting to report it to the officials.

Hearing Madam Xiao’s words, General Zhao’s brow furrowed slightly. He looked at Zhao Jiayu, his tone simmering with anger, “You beat your biaodi into this state. If you don’t receive punishment today, learn a lesson, and curb your temper, what will happen when you marry into the Qu family?”

General Zhao suddenly brought up the Qu family. His intention was unclear, but it was understood in two different ways by Madam Xiao and Zhao Jiayu.

Upon hearing about the Qu family, Zhao Jiayu’s desire to break off the engagement with them intensified. As for Madam Xiao, she heard it as the Zhao family using the Qu family to pressure them.

“If you want to hit me, then hit me——”

“Don’t you try to scare me with the Qu family——”

Zhao Jiayu and Madam Xiao spoke at the same time. Hearing each other’s voices, they both stopped and looked at one another.

General Zhao looked up at the two of them. Seeing that they had fallen silent, he could only say to the people outside, “Men, bring the family punishment instruments.”

Hearing her father’s voice, the anger in Zhao Jiayu’s heart suppressed the pain she felt. She turned to leave.

Hit me then. It’s not like I haven’t been hit before.

But just then, the Zhao Residence’s housekeeper hurried over from the courtyard. As he crossed the threshold, he was nearly knocked over by Zhao Jiayu, who was walking with her head down.

“Aiyo.” The Zhao Residence’s housekeeper staggered, nearly falling, but was caught by Zhao Jiayu’s quick hands.

The housekeeper glanced at Zhao Jiayu, but without time to thank her, he hurriedly said to General Zhao, “Master, Young Master Yu from the Qu Marquis Residence is here.” Although Qu Yu and Zhao Jiayu were engaged, they were not yet married, so he had to be addressed with the original etiquette.

But Qu Yu was the Zhao Residence’s son-in-law, set in stone. When he arrived, everyone naturally knew who he was here for.

Everyone was stunned for a moment upon hearing of Qu Yu’s arrival, and then they all looked at Zhao Jiayu. At that moment, Zhao Jiayu also heard footsteps from outside. When she turned, she saw Qu Yu striding toward her.

Qu Yu stopped beside Zhao Jiayu, looked at the displeasure on her face, and said with a gentle expression, “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

Zhao Jiayu looked up at him when she heard his words.

Qu Yu smiled at Zhao Jiayu and turned to enter the hall.

“Qu Yu pays his respects to General Zhao, Madam Zhao, and Madam Xiao.” Qu Yu was dressed in an elegant, silver-white long robe. When he bowed in salute, he had the air of a scholar.

General Zhao looked at the polite Qu Yu and nodded. “Xianzhi²¹, have you come to see Jiayu today?”

Qu Yu raised his head at the question and smiled, “Yes, but I am also here to seek justice for my fiancée.” Qu Yu emphasized that Zhao Jiayu was the yet-to-be-wedded wife of their Qu family.

The entire room looked at him in confusion, hearing that he wanted to seek justice for Zhao Jiayu.

Qu Yu saw the bewilderment on General Zhao’s face and said, “Just now in the courtyard, I heard that General Zhao intended to use family punishment on my fiancée. Although my fiancée injured the young master of the Xiao Residence and should be punished, our wedding is in less than half a month. I imagine General Zhao does not wish to postpone the wedding date, correct?”

If Zhao Jiayu were beaten with the plank today, she probably wouldn’t recover for ten days to half a month. Even if she did, she wouldn’t be completely fine, and it would certainly affect the wedding.

General Zhao looked at Qu Yu, then at Zhao Jiayu outside the door. At this moment, Zhao Jiayu was also a bit dazed.

When Madam Xiao heard Qu Yu’s words, she knew he was here to shield Zhao Jiayu today. But she had just opened her mouth, not yet having spoken, when Qu Yu turned to face her and said, “Madam Xiao.”

Startled by Qu Yu’s loud call, Madam Xiao forgot what she was about to say. Because at this moment, Qu Yu’s expression was no longer gentle.

“I heard that yesterday, your son’s guards, under his indulgence, attempted to murder my fiancée. How should this matter be handled?” Qu Yu’s voice was slightly cold.

Hearing this, Madam Xiao’s eyes went blank for a moment. “Young Master Qu, you can’t just say things like that.” Madam Xiao didn’t dare to confront Qu Yu head-on at all. Xiao Tong still had to rely on the Qu family.

“Whether I’m speaking nonsense or not, Madam Xiao can very well ask your son.” Qu Yu turned to look at Zhao Jiayu behind him. Seeing her in a dazed state, he walked over, gently tugged her sleeve, and led her to the carried Xiao Yaocai.

Zhao Jiayu let herself be pulled along, cooperating as she walked forward.

“Brother Yaocai, yesterday, people from our Marquis Residence said they saw your guards trying to throw my fiancée to her death. How should we resolve this matter?” Qu Yu stood at the head of Xiao Yaocai’s stretcher, looking down at him condescendingly.

Hearing Qu Yu’s words, Xiao Yaocai finally remembered that such an incident had indeed happened yesterday. Zhao Jiayu also remembered; at the time, if it weren’t for Feng Qi, she truly would have faced more evil than auspiciousness²².

“Not talking?” Qu Yu looked at Xiao Yaocai’s nervous face, then looked up at Madam Xiao.

Madam Xiao didn’t know what was going on at this moment either. She glanced down at her son, and her heart knew it was true.

“You scoundrel! She’s your biaojie, why didn’t you control your guards properly!” The direction of the wind from Madam Xiao’s mouth immediately changed. The meaning in her words shifted all the blame to Xiao Yaocai’s guards.

Qu Yu smiled. “Madam Xiao, don’t be in such a hurry to shift the blame. We can discuss later whether the guards acted on their own.”

Hearing this, Madam Xiao’s heart sank again, wondering what other leverage Qu Yu held.

“I heard that yesterday’s incident was caused by the Haichao Kingdom princess that His Majesty bestowed upon Young Master Xiao. If His Majesty were to find out that Young Master Xiao handed over the person he bestowed as a gift to be defiled by others in a monetary transaction, what crime do you suppose His Majesty would convict him of?”

Qu Yu’s words instantly dumbfounded Madam Xiao.

“This… this hasn’t happened yet,” Madam Xiao’s voice grew tense. She hadn’t known what was going on before and only found out last night. Now, she didn’t dare deny that it had happened.

But now she was also thankful that Xiao Bingying and the others had taken Cheng Xi away.

“Whether it has happened or not depends on what the imperial censors have to say.” Qu Yu glanced at Madam Xiao, then looked down at the carried Xiao Yaocai.

At this moment, Xiao Yaocai was as silent as a cicada in winter²³, only now realizing the severity of the problem.

Hearing Qu Yu’s words, Madam Xiao immediately walked over to Madam Zhao, grasped her hand, and pleaded with a deeply moved expression, “Jiejie²⁴, Jiefu²⁵, you must save us! Yaocai is the only heir of the Xiao family.”

Seeing this, Qu Yu said no more. He hadn’t come today to force the Xiao family into a corner. What happened next depended on how the Zhao family handled it.

Hearing Madam Xiao’s words, Madam Zhao’s face also showed a hint of anxiety. “Yu’er, I think we should just let this matter go. Yaocai has learned his lesson, and Miss Cheng Xi wasn’t injured, was she?”

“What do you mean, ‘let it go,’ Mother? Yaocai was going to have his men kill me!” With Qu Yu backing her up, Zhao Jiayu’s earlier meekness vanished completely. When she spoke, her voice was so loud that the entire hall could hear her clearly.

Hearing Zhao Jiayu’s words, Madam Xiao quickly put on a placating smile. “Jiayu, you and Yaocai grew up together. You’re closer than real siblings. How could he possibly let his guards do that? It must have been that guard acting on his own initiative. I’ll dismiss him as soon as I get back.”

Hearing Madam Xiao’s softened attitude, much of Zhao Jiayu’s anger dissipated, but she still felt a little dissatisfied. “It was clearly Yaocai who was in the wrong first, yet Maternal aunt was just forcing my father to beat me. How do we settle this?”

At her words, Madam Xiao was completely at a loss. With a mournful face, looking as if she was about to cry, she said, “Jiayu, what on earth do you want? Your biaodi has already been beaten into this state by you. Do you want him to die?”

Zhao Jiayu didn’t want Xiao Yaocai to die, but today’s events were truly infuriating. However, she also knew when to quit while she was ahead. Zhao Jiayu thought for a few moments and said, “I want you to agree to one request.”

Hearing this, Madam Xiao knew there was hope and quickly said, “Tell me, I’ll agree to anything.”

Madam Xiao also knew that Zhao Jiayu was a soft-hearted person and wouldn’t ask for anything too outrageous, so she readily agreed.

Seeing how quickly she agreed, Zhao Jiayu pouted and said, “I want Ah Jie and Miss Cheng Xi to stay at our residence temporarily, for as long as they want. You are not allowed to come and rush them in the future!”

Madam Xiao hesitated for a moment. Seeing this, Zhao Jiayu looked angrily at Qu Yu and said, “A-Yu.”

Hearing Zhao Jiayu call for Qu Yu, Madam Xiao quickly said, “Alright, alright, I agree to everything. My little ancestor, Maternal aunt agrees to everything.”

Hearing Madam Xiao agree, Zhao Jiayu experienced what it felt like for the fox to borrow the tiger’s might²⁶. The corners of her lips couldn’t help but curve up. When she turned to look at Qu Yu, he was also smiling at her.

Madam Xiao looked down at her injured son being carried. She had originally come to seek justice but ended up having justice sought from her. She could only sigh and say to the men carrying Xiao Yaocai, “You lot, carry the young master back.”

“Wait a moment.” Seeing them about to leave, Qu Yu spoke up to stop them.

“Is there something else?” Madam Xiao’s heart, which had just settled, started to pound again.

Qu Yu glanced down at Xiao Yaocai, then looked up at Madam Xiao. “I want the guard who injured Jiayu yesterday.”

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Prime Minister’s Residence.

After the morning meal, Lin Xirui returned to his courtyard to review his lessons. His teacher had recently returned to his hometown and wouldn’t be back until spring next year, so Lin Xirui didn’t need to attend classes in the back courtyard.

During the midday meal, Lin Xizhao put some food on Lin Xirui’s plate. Lin Xirui looked up at her, an expression on his face as if he had something to say.

“What is it?” Lin Xizhao ladled some soup for Qu Sheng and placed it in front of her.

“Ah Jie, do you know where Second Brother is being held?”

Lin Xirui’s words made Lin Xizhao pause in confusion. “Isn’t he in his courtyard?”

Hearing this, Lin Xirui glanced toward the dining hall entrance, then looked up at the maids standing on either side, and said in a low voice, “I secretly went to look this morning. Everyone in Second Brother’s courtyard is gone.”

Lin Xizhao’s eyes filled with even more confusion. After the meal, Lin Xizhao summoned the housekeeper and asked, “Where are the people from the Second Young Master’s courtyard?”

The housekeeper bowed his head and replied, “Replying to the Eldest Miss, the Master had this old slave sell them all off yesterday.”

“Sold them?” Lin Xizhao frowned slightly. “Why wasn’t I informed when they were sold?”

The people in Lin Xikuan’s courtyard didn’t really need to be sold off. Most of them were unaware of what Lin Xikuan had done. It would have been enough to get rid of the page boy who was always with him. To beat them all to death with one stick²⁷ like this, it seemed Lin Jianhai was truly furious.

“Xikuan is alone in the courtyard. Who is serving him?” Lin Xizhao was puzzled. Lin Jianhai said he was punishing Lin Xikuan with seclusion and reflection, and he had sold off everyone in his courtyard. Surely there had to be someone to take care of him?

“This… this old slave does not know. The Master forbade any inquiries.”

The housekeeper’s words made Lin Xizhao suspicious. When Lin Jianhai left in the morning, he had told them not to disturb Lin Xikuan. Now, when she asked the housekeeper, he actually said he didn’t know who was serving in the courtyard.

Lin Xizhao thought it over and decided to go to the kitchens to ask.

Lin Xizhao took Qu Sheng to the residence’s kitchens and asked if any meals had been sent to Lin Xikuan’s courtyard today. The kitchen staff all replied that none had.

Qu Sheng saw the anxious look on Lin Xizhao’s face and seemed to realize that Lin Jianhai had definitely done more than simply confine Lin Xikuan.

Lin Xizhao went to Lin Xirui’s courtyard and asked him to go into Lin Xikuan’s place again to see if he was in his room.

Lin Xirui left upon hearing Lin Xizhao’s words and returned not long after.

Lin Xizhao looked at Lin Xirui’s tightly furrowed brow and asked, “No one’s there?”

Lin Xirui nodded, his eyes holding the same worry as Lin Xizhao’s. Qu Sheng watched the sister and brother, who seemed to have only just realized that Lin Xikuan was not in the Prime Minister’s Residence, and fell into deep thought.

All the servants in Lin Xikuan’s courtyard had been sold off, and the residence’s housekeeper claimed to know nothing. Thinking back to what Lin Jianhai had said during the morning meal, a thought formed in her mind.

Even a vicious tiger does not eat its cubs²⁸. Could it be that Lin Jianhai was going to kill Lin Xikuan? Or was he going to lock him up forever? As Qu Sheng pondered, she recalled Yu-shi, who had died mysteriously in her prison cell all those years ago.

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The author has something to say:

Qu Sheng: “I am a bundle of small, dry firewood, just waiting for jiejie to light it.”

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